Exploring the age-old debate with the KHAMSA team.
In KHAMSA‘s new series, ‘Book vs. Movie’, we bring together two of our editors to sit and discuss a novel and film of the same name. Through this, we will explore the similarities and differences of both and how they stack up against each other as an experience.
For the first edition, KHAMSA’s Leen Abdulrahim and Pranav Unnikrishnan showcase two perspectives of It Ends with Us, the novel by Colleen Hoover and the movie starring Blake Lively. Through their words, we’ll explore what was gained or lost in the transition from page to screen, and whether the movie does justice to the emotional complexity of Hoover’s bestseller.
Let’s dive into the comparisons and see where their opinions land.
Leen Abdulrahim (LA): “Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us has been celebrated for its raw emotional power, but the movie adaptation has left many fans feeling underwhelmed. One of the most significant issues is how the film glosses over crucial elements that made the book so impactful, particularly the disturbing and intense moments that define the characters’ journeys.
“In the book, Ryle’s desperation to have Lily, even if for just one night, is depicted with striking intensity. Hoover takes her readers deep into the complexities of Ryle’s obsessive behaviour, where his desperation escalates into violence, leaving a lasting impression of the toxic cycle of abuse. The internal conflict, the tension, and the horror of those moments are vividly portrayed across the pages.”
“However, in the movie, these scenes are either toned down or omitted altogether, making Ryle’s darker side feel muted. Without these moments, his character comes off as more one-dimensional, and the emotional gravity of his actions is lost. This is one of the many reasons the film fails to connect emotionally in the same way the novel does.”
Pranav Unnikrishnan (PU): “First off, I will say this – the movie version of It Ends with Us was….disappointing, for the lack of a better word. Now, I cannot claim to know anything about the sheer horrors of domestic violence, but after some enlightening conversations with others, I think even the filmmakers never fully grasped it either. How they managed to dilute the raw depiction of DV in the book on screen is incredible, and not in a good way.
“The whole reason the novel became a hit is because of the details. It’s so brutal, and it leaves you shaken by the end of the read. I am not saying the movie is a romcom, but it really nerfed every major character and the way they shape the story. When Lily leaves Ryle, it doesn’t give you the same joy and relief as the book does. Whatever Ryle did to Lily is (maybe thankfully for some who have read the book) a less intense watch than the sickening descriptions in the novel. The book also spent some time portraying Ryle as this nice, caring man, which added more weight and emotion to Lily’s conflict. That is such compelling writing, but in the movie, they just showed Ryle as a rather one-note character, and while he was one, Lily’s emotional turmoil didn’t hit the same way. The movie made it seem like she was gaslit so easily, but in the book, she actually tried to push back because she didn’t want to suffer the same fate as her mother.
“The entire Lily-Atlas relationship, one of the best parts of the novel, is also so rushed in the film. Atlas is a pillar for Lily, the kind of friend you realize halfway through your read that everyone needs in their lives. In the movie, while Atlas was HELPFUL, he wasn’t exactly what you would call a character who bonded with Lily across the movie with all their experiences.”
“You get the point – for a subject like DV, the movie version felt lacking in several places.”
LA: “Definitely. The violence in the book serves a purpose – it’s brutal, but it’s a necessary part of understanding Lily’s choices and the fear that keeps her tethered to Ryle. The movie, in contrast, softens these edges, giving viewers only a glimpse of what Lily endures, which reduces the impact of her eventual realization that she must leave.
“What I found particularly concerning in the film was how underserved Lily’s character was. In the book, her inner monologues and flashbacks are crucial in illustrating the depth of her pain, her memories of growing up with an abusive father, and her slow unravelling as she realizes she’s repeating the same patterns. The movie rushes through these layers, leaving out key moments that define her resilience. Also, OMG, her relationship with Atlas, which in the book is built on shared trauma and quiet understanding, feels rushed and lacks the emotional depth that made it so compelling on the page.”
“I even had an issue with the movie’s costumes – they don’t do justice to Lily’s character. In the novel, her evolution is not just emotional, but also reflected in subtle changes in her demeanour and style. The film’s wardrobe choices often feel uninspired, failing to capture the transformation Lily undergoes as she reclaims her life. Again, the lack of such details really brought down the film for me.”
PU: “Absolutely. I think it is safe to say both of us like the novel way more than the movie, haha. But honestly, I think I can cut the movie a bit of slack – like it is ultimately held back by a compulsory and suboptimal three-hour runtime limit. The novel gave us so much, and I feel all of it cannot be condensed into a feature film. I kept saying after I saw the movie as well – if this had been a web series instead, it would have been WAY better. A good number of episodes would have allowed the makers to properly flesh everything out and give us a product fitting of the brilliance of the book. For example, I HATED that the part in the book where Lily memorizes Atlas’ number because she secretly knew she would need it was not there in the movie. That was one of my favourite pages in the book.
“The book was such a crazy experience for me as well, an emotional rollercoaster without the clichés we have come to expect from recent works. I haven’t read it a second time, but the first read – while I was in college – is still fresh in my mind. I specifically remember a moment when I realized that the entire mood and tone of the book had changed around thirty pages ago, and sat there stunned at the subtlety of the shift. It is such a gripping read that forces you to acknowledge how despicable DV is. That feeling of dread doesn’t escalate suddenly, but gradually, building up this hollow feeling in your chest before it slowly transitions to a horrifying realization at what is happening.”
“By contrast, I felt that the movie did well to portray the truth about DV in some parts, but it also tried to turn trauma into drama in some others, which was not nice. Like it is rated PG-13, and that kind of sums up what we have been saying.”
LA: “So true, Pranav. Adding to what you said about the book’s tone, the movie’s pales by comparison and disappoints you. Despite the heavy themes, the film’s marketing and visual direction make it seem like a romantic drama, almost a light-hearted love story. This misdirection creates a jarring disconnect between what the book’s story is truly about—survival, strength, and the cycle of abuse—and what the film presents. As a result, I feel viewers may find it hard to fully connect with the characters or feel the emotional stakes that were so powerfully conveyed in the novel.
“In contrast, Hoover’s book explores these themes with nuance and heart. The internal dialogues, slow emotional build-up, and gradual shifts in tone make Lily’s journey feel real and raw. The movie, despite some strong acting performances from the cast, lacks this depth, leaving many fans feeling that the emotional weight of the story was lost in translation.”
“I will give the movie some credit in bringing the story to a wider audience, it doesn’t quite capture the full emotional complexity of Hoover’s work. For those seeking the raw, unfiltered impact of Lily’s story, the book remains the best way to experience It Ends with Us. No doubt.”
PU: “Oh God, let’s not even get into the marketing fiasco with Blake. Her somehow talking about Deadpool and Wolverine instead of this movie and its serious subject was so pony. She received some serious flak online for it – I remember scrolling through her comments sections, and they were flooded with criticism. Can’t say it wasn’t warranted.
“I heard they are apparently making a sequel to the movie. If it is truly happening, I pray that they don’t try and make it a romcom and take away from whatever they managed to establish in the movie.
“So Leen, I should probably read the book again, right? Yup, will do.”
